Julie and Matt’s Phenomenal Chicago Engagement Connection Session

One of my friends was teasing me earlier today about how every blog post I write seems to suggest that each shoot changes my life. While I don’t mean to be that sappy, I really do love shooting, and find that each session makes me feel so energized and really makes me think about different things in  my own life and relationships in general. While I’d like to say that I’d refrain from waxing poetic, I really can’t help but gush over the most recent session I shot with the fabulous Julie and Matt. This was probably my favourite engagement connection session I’ve ever shot–everything was just on, from the lighting (finally good light here in Chicago) to Matt and Julie’s interaction to the locations — I really felt inspired and energized by this session. We had such a relaxed time shooting, and it reminded me to encourage couples to not just choose a location based on places that you like. I think when shooting in really highly-packed areas, you end up being a little more inhibited, but I took Matt and Julie to some of my secret spots where we literally saw maybe four people the entire time, and as such, were able to relax a little more and capture more of their relationship. At any rate, this session was phenomenal, and we completely lucked out on some of the circumstances that happened (read on). Matt and Julie are both so stylish, kind and thoughtful, and have such a great aesthetic and eye that I so enjoyed shooting this session and cannot wait for their phenomenal June wedding here at a loft in Chicago.

Getting married in June, hence the 6.

Adore.

So excited for things in bloom!

One of my favourites.

It’s rare I get a favourite in black and white, but I love this one, too.

Okay, so we were walking around, and were ooh-ing and ahh-ing over some puppies we saw. We sat down to take some photographs on steps, and the dog’s owner approached us, and offered to let us shoot in his sprawling yard. From there, it was like an adventure or treasure hunt. We went up to a lovely roof deck with views of the city, and were then shown two abandoned properties he owns. They were the first to get electricity on the block, were last painted in the 30s, and have been abandoned for decades. It was phenomenal, and I am sad I didn’t have all the lighting equipment to do some really neat things (assuming we were just shooting outside all day).

Love love love.

Aforementioned dogs. I think Matt and Julie need to pick up a shar-pei.

Julie had some photos from another session she saw that she really loved, so I specifically chose this area for their shoot. I think we achieved the goal!